LOOKING WAY FORWARD TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT MAY 6-7

I've done a very cursory analysis of the competition at state. Here are my predictions based on performances in the last few tournaments. But I think we are in the mix for the top 10, maybe even top 5 if Pinewood doesn't have a full team. Note how close teams 6-10 are. If we work hard - paying careful attention, working hard on the worksheets, and playing each game seriously, and doing some extra playing or studying or online - we have a chance to improve our score.

ERACS	15
OAKGR	15
MJDS	14
BRECK	13
PINEM	13
RSI	10.5
OLSON	10.5
HERITAGE	10
OAKPT	10
GRACE	10

Snow day homework 

Solve these problems. White's turn in all problems

PROBLEM 1

,

PROBLEM 2

PROBLEM 3

 TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Cavan - The three games you lost were to players rated much higher than you. In the two games where the rating were equal, you prevailed.

Thomas - you somehow managed to get paired against strong players (all over 800) and I thought you would be able to win the last round when you played someone with a 1 and 3 record, but your opponent was rated 1295 !  So your rating went down only 4 points.

                                 bef   aft   chg

Cavan   L W L W L 384  410  +26

Thomas L B L L  L  254  250    -4

Cavan	410
Quillan	331
Warren	325
Simon	313
Owen	275
Thomas	250
Lucia	241
Luke	184
Jack	124
Grant	121
Kellen	100
Alan	100
James	100

Here's a position from Thomas' round 4 game. Can you find the 3-move checkmate for white? Thomas found the first move, but made a mistake on the second move.

f

Answer:

1. Qf8+ Qg8

2. Qf6+ Qg7

3. Qxg7#

The first session went very well. We have a number of new players who play well. We learned a few opening principles and reviewed some of the basics for the new players.

Tournaments 

For more information or to register, go to www.schoolchess.org

I've highlighted the tournaments I'd like to see a big turnout at - put them on your calendar if your rating is getting near 300.

Feb 18 This Saturday at the Diamondhead Center for Education in Burnsville.

Mar 11 Sat at the Diamondhead Center in Burnsville

Mar 25 Sat at Plymouth Middle School. Grade Level Individual and Team (I think we can put a competitive 5th grade team together. We need 3 or more players to increase our chances. Top three scores added together is your team score so if, for example, we have 5 players we simply don't count the bottom two - so you can only help our team, not hurt it, if you come.

April 8 Sat Diamondhead Center, Burnsville. Middle School team championships.

May 6-7 Sat-Sun Robbinsdale Middle School K5 Championships Team and Individual

May 20 Sat Zachary Lane Elem in Plymouth

 RATINGS

Cavan	384
Quillan	331
Warren	325
Simon	313
Owen	275
Thomas	254
Grant	121
Kellen	100

Here's a puzzle to get some practice moving the knight. Black never moves his pawns for this puzzle.  How many moves does it take your knight to capture all 7 black pawns? Are you sure you can't do it in fewer moves?

Jan 7 Tournament Results 

Rating                 Bef Aft Chg

Cavan L L W W 367 403 +36

Simon W L L W 262 309 +47

Another tournament is coming up this weekend - Saturday Feb 18 at the Diamondhead Education Center in Burnsville. To sign up go to school chess.org